Animal-carrier.



PATBNTED JUNE 2, 1908.

s. Room. ANIMAL CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1907.

WITNESSES.

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SHELTON L. COOK, OF GOLDEN CITY, MISSOURI.

ANIMAL-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed. November 22, 1907. Serial No. 403,395.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHELTON L. CooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Golden City, in the county of Barton and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Animal-Carriers, of which the ollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in animal carriers. 1

It is particularly adapted for use by a horseman for carrying lambs. With this invention a person on horseback may readily pick u and easily carry an animal, such as a amb, from one place to another.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrative of my inventionFigure 1 is a side elevation, the jaws being shown in the closed and open positions respectively, by solid and dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an elevation at right angles to that in Fi 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the dotted ine ab of Fig. 2.

1 denotes the handle which in use is disposed vertically, as shown, and has an inverted T-shaped lower end, the horizontal portion 2 of which is provided with a transverse hole through which extends a bolt 3 having pivotally mounted thereon the upper ends of two cooperating jaws 4 and 5, adapted to embrace the body of the animal which is being carried. Each jaw comprises preferably two parallel curved arms, the upper ends of which are pivoted to the bolt 3, said curved arms being connected with each other by three horizontal plates, 6, 7 and 8, disposed respectively near the upper ends, the,

middle portions, and the lower ends of the curved arms. Each jaw is provided with a plate 9 secured at its upper end to the adj acent plate 6 and its lower end to the adjacent plate 7. Secured to the handle 1 is a horizontal bracket 10, rovided adjacent its ends with two vertical holes, in which are slidably mounted the vertical arms 11 of an inverted U-shaped portion of a reciprocative device for swinging the jaws 4 and 5 to and from the closed position. Said aw swinging device is provided with a horizontal late 12 to which are secured the lower ends of the arms 11. The plate 12 extends through slots 13 rovided vertically one in each plate 9. The lower side of the plate 12 is provided with transverse grooves or recesses 14 to receive the plates 9 so as to releasably hold the jaws 4 and 5 from opening after the jaws have been closed.

Encircling the arms 11, above the bracket 10, is a coil spring 15, the ends of which are secured to the bracket 10. The spring 15 by its tension serves to move the jaw swinging member, comprising the rod 11 and plate 12 downward so as to force the jaws 4 and 5 to the closed position shown in solid lines in Figs. 1 and 3.

A vertical hair-pin shaped rod 16 is secured at its lower end to the plate 12, its upper end being secured to the lower end of a connecting rod 17, the upper end of which is secured to a lever 18, having two ears 19, pivoted to opposite sides of the handle 1, adjacent to the upper end of said handle. .By forcing the upper end of the lever 18 toward the handle the jaws 4 and 5 may be swung to the open position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 through the intermediacy of the plate 12, rod 16, and rod 17.

Secured to the handle 1 near its upper end, is a hook 20, by which the horseman may, with his hand, supportthe carrier and animal. Secured to the handle 1, near the middle ortion thereof, is a horizontal L-shaped hoo 21, which may be inserted in the stirrup, not shown, and retained in position therein by the foot of the rider, thereby enabling the carrier to be supported and at the same time give the horseman free use of his hands.

In operating the invention the lever 18 is first swung to draw upward the rod 17 thereby, through the intermediacy of the rod 16, raising the jaw engaging plate 12 in the slots 13 so'as to release the plates 9 from engagement with the plate 12. The continued upward movement of the plate 12 will cause it to strike the plates 6 of the two jaws 4 and 5, thereby swinging the jaws to the open position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The device is then adjusted with the arms 4 and 5 upon opposite sides of the body of the lamb or animal to be carried. The lever 18 is released, after which the spring 15 forces the plate 12 downward and the jaws 4 and 5 will swing to the position shown in solid lines in Figs. 1 and 3. In this position the body of the animal will be securely held, the jaws 4 and 5 being prevented from opening by the entrance of the plates 9 into the grooves or recesses 14 on the under side of the plate 12. The hook 21 may then be inserted in one stirrup orin the loop of astrap attached to the saddle and the animal transported to the place desired. The animal may then be released by compressing the upper end of the lever 18, thereby swinging open the jaws 4 and 5.

Various modifications of my invention may be modified in different ways, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from its spirit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s 1. In an animal carrier, the combination with a handle, of cooperating jaws pivoted thereto for embracing the body of an animal and having oppositely disposed transverse slots, a jaw swinging member mounted in said slots and reciprocative therein lengthwise of said handle and when reciprocated engaging and swinging said jaws to and from the closed position, said member having recesses adapted to engage said jaws and hold them in the closed. position, a lever pivoted to said handle, means by which the jaw swinging member is moved in one direction when the lever is swung in'one direction, and a spring for moving said jaw engaging memher in the opposite direction.

2. In an animal carrier, the combination with a handle, of cooperating jaws pivoted thereto for embracing the body of an animal, a bracket secured to said handle, a jaw engaging member slidable on said bracket lengthwise of said handle and provided with means, when reciprocated, for swinging said jaws to and from the closed position, a lever pivoted to said handle, means connecting said lever and said jaw swinging member by which said member is moved in one direction when the lever is swung, a spring for forcing the said member in the opposite direction, said jaw swinging member having means adapted to engage and hold said jaws in the closed position, and a supporting hook secured to said handle.

3. In an animal carrier, the combination with a handle, of cooperating jaws pivoted thereto for embracing the body of an animal, a bracket secured to said handle and having two holes parallel with said handle, a jaw swinging member having a transverse ortion engagin opposite jaws and provided with a U '-s1aped portion reciprocatively mounted in said holes, a s ring encircling said U-shaped portion and iaving its ends secured to said bracket for moving the jaw swinging member in one direction, a lever pivoted to said handle, and means connecting said lever and said jaw swinging member by which, when the lever is swung in the proper direction, the jaw swinging member will be moved in a direction opposite to which it is moved by said spring.

4. In an animal carrier, the combination with a handle, of a supporting hook secured thereto, cooperating jaws pivoted to the handle for embracing the body of an animal, a bracket secured to the handle, a jaw engaging member slidably reciprocative on said bracket lengthwise of said handle and having means, when reciprocated, for swinging the jaws to and from the closed position, a lever pivoted to said handle, a rod connecting said lever and said jaw engaging member by which said member is forced in one direc- I tion, a spring connected to said bracket for forcing said member in the opposite direction, and means connecting the jaws and jaw engaging member when the aws are in the closed position for holding said jaws from swinging away from each other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SHELTON L. COOK.

Witnesses: 7

WILLIAM P. FLYNN, ALEX MoMILLAN. 

